Greater New Orleans

Cokie Roberts Unfairly Disparages Local Media

March 20, 2009...Political columnist and television commentator Cokie Roberts made some inappropriate and unfortunate remarks last week to the Radio-Television News Directors Foundation in Washington D.C. Roberts blamed local broadcasters for working to "split people apart." Somehow, Roberts believes that the local media is exacerbating racial tensions and that "totally crazy people are screaming on the airwaves." In her statement, Roberts provided no specific examples; she just made an irresponsible blanket indictment of many hard working people who are trying to present accurate information to the public.

When did Cokie Roberts become an expert on the local media? She has spent most of her life in the Washington D.C. area and lived here only a brief time as a child. She is part of the Beltway elite, who makes her living commenting on the political environment of Capitol Hill, not analyzing the racial dynamics of this area.

Sadly, Roberts, like so many New Orleans natives who have moved away, seems to enjoy criticizing her hometown. Sometimes the criticism is on target, but, in this instance, Roberts is plainly wrong. In my view, the vast majority of the local media is truthfully reporting what is happening in this turbulent period of our history. Some fine examples of courageous leadership have been highlighted, but many other corrupt politicians have been exposed. There have been some exceptional examples of first rate investigative journalism reporting on the activities of African American politicians such as Ray Nagin and Bill Jefferson and white politicians such as Eddie Price and Joe Impastato.

Instead of remaining silent, the media has a responsibility to report on issues that may stir racial tensions. When Mayor Nagin delivered his "Chocolate City" speech, the local media was duty bound to cover it as a many news story. When former Congressman Bill Jefferson was indicted, the media had a responsibility to report the details of his alleged crimes. When a minister leading a recall effort of U.S. Congressman Joseph Cao (R-New Orleans) was exposed as a convicted felon, the media was performing a public service in reporting this vital information.

Roberts wants the media to emphasize "sensible souls" in the community, but does she want them to ignore the activities of convicted felons such as Oliver Thomas and Derrick Shepherd? The public has a right to know what is going on in government, the good, the bad and the ugly.

It is quite ironic that Roberts made this misguided attack while accepting a free speech award. She seems to be advocating shutting down free speech and removing "crazy people" from the airwaves. The people Roberts is unhappy about are the average citizens of this area, the taxpayers and business owners who pay the salaries of the politicians. When a politician abuses his position, the public has every right to express their outrage on talk radio or on the Internet. I guess Roberts doesn't believe that the "little people" should have a voice on the airwaves. It seems that in her warped Beltway mentality, only the elite intelligentsia or the wine and cheese liberals should be allowed to speak.

Roberts owes the local media an apology for her baseless attack. I know of no media representatives who are dividing the races; however I cannot say the same thing for all of our politicians, ministers and misguided activists.

While Roberts slammed the local media for "exacerbating" racial tensions, she neglected to mention the real culprits who create more racial strife. For example, Mayor Nagin has been a racially divisive politician throughout his second term. Instead of fostering racial unity, he has created racial division. He deserves the ire of Roberts, not the media who are reporting on his outrageous activities.